Boston police arrest in four year old murder of New Milford college student

Nearly four years after the death of a young New Milford woman who was attending college in Massachusetts, a former Boston resident has been indicted on a murder charge and a second man charged with perjury.

Rebecca Payne, a student at Northeastern University in Boston, was slain inside her Parker Hill Avenue apartment in May of 2008. She was 22.

According to a news release today from Suffolk County, Mass., District Attorney Daniel F. Conley's office, Cornell Smith, 30, was charged with first-degree murder, armed assault in a dwelling and unlawful possession of a firearm.

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The indictment was made Friday, said Jake Wark, press secretary to the district attorney's office.

He added that yesterday, Michael Balba, 55, of Billerica was arrested and charged with four counts of perjury for allegedly lying to the Suffolk County Grand Jury during the investigation of the homicide.

His arraignment is expected to take place tomorrow in Suffolk Superior Court.

Ms. Payne was found in her apartment the morning of May 20, 2008, having been shot several times.

According to the news release, area residents had heard gunfire hours earlier. No one, however, had called 911 to ask police to investigate.

"She was, in every sense, an innocent victim," Mr. Conley stated in the news release.

He stated that Ms. Payne did not know Mr. Smith and did nothing that would bring about the violent action but did not release any details in the case.

The murder suspect is currently incarcerated out of state, serving a 12-year federal sentence regarding an unrelated drug case.

The district attorney's office said it is not known when Mr. Smith would be returned to Boston to respond to the new charges.

In the news release, Mr. Conley cited the efforts of Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis, the Boston Police Homicide Unit, the squad led by Sgt. Det. Paul McLaughlin, and Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum, who led the grand jury investigation.

"They pursued every lead they developed," he stated. "Not a day went by that they didn't think, act, or pick up the phone on this case. I hope Rebecca's family, her friends, and the Northeastern community find some comfort knowing that we were always committed to reaching this point."